Breaking the Dam: Bringing Heaven to Earth

By Blake Lawhon

Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...

Have you ever wondered why you get prompted to do something that doesn't make sense? Or get the feeling you are supposed to share an encouraging word to a stranger? Or even give something away?

These promptings can be a catalyst that ignites a serie

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Mar 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887387345

Blake Lawhon

Blake is a devoted follower of Jesus, husband to Tracy (of thirty-one years), and father of four. While most of his professional career has been in sales and sales management, he has spent the past six years writing and investing time shepherding the hearts of those he comes in contact with. His previous publication, "When Grey Gets in the Way", continues to encourage readers who are seeking purpose. Blake has been a servant leader in the local church for thirty years and continues to be involved in worship ministry, small groups leadership and oversight, and speaking.

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Breaking the Dam

Trilogy Christian Publishers

A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive

Tustin, CA 92780

Copyright © 2023 by Blake Lawhon 

Cover Art: Autry Friend

Scripture quotations marked (hcsb) are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Used by Permission HCSB ©1999, 2000, 2003, 2009 Holman Bible Publishers. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. 

For information, address Trilogy Christian Publishing

Rights Department, 2442 Michelle Drive, Tustin, CA 92780.

Trilogy Christian Publishing/ TBN and colophon are trademarks of Trinity Broadcasting Network.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Trilogy Christian Publishing.

Manufactured in the United States of America

Trilogy Disclaimer: The views and content expressed in this book are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views and doctrine of Trilogy Christian Publishing or the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN: 979-8-88738-733-8

ISBN: 979-8-88738-734-5

Dedication

To my children, this book is dedicated to each of you as students and teachers. While we have all learned to serve together, it has become a part of the very fiber of our family. Each of you, in your own ways, carry the torch of selflessness…and you carry it well. Each of you lead by putting the needs of others before yourself. You care about other people when considering actions and decisions, and in this I have learned so much from each of you. I adore you all.

It is my prayer that as you read this book you gain insight into how selfishness in this world robs the giver more than the receiver. I also hope that each of you see some of the areas where we not only have done well, but also some of the areas where we have failed. You all are better than your mother and me, so we did pretty good. Challenge each other and be the best versions of yourself.

Mariah, you are the one who gave me the title dad. Your compassion is what always drew others to you. Your kindness and love for others to be treated fairly often put you in places that left you feeling alone and neglected. However, I look at where you are now and couldn’t be more proud of the woman you have become. You and Alex are powerful together, and I am your biggest cheerleader. I love you both!

Matthew, you get to carry on the family name and are so worthy of that charge. You are a true servant leader. Wherever you go there will be a place for you because you are kind and compassionate, much like Mariah. You have learned to listen, which will serve you well as a husband and father. I am so proud of the man, husband, and father you have become. Lead by example, Claudia and Rain will follow. I love you all so much.

Mackenzie, you are the epitome of GO. You lead well, from a heart hungry to affect change in others. I believe serving others has allowed you to dream in colors most will never experience on this earth. Your willingness to say yes will give you experiences and opportunities throughout your life. Steward them well and He will give you the desires of your heart. Press upward, press in, and press on. I love you, coconut.

Marlee, you are one of the deepest thinkers I have ever met. Your concern for those around you is a one of a kind blend when partnered with your quick wit and sense of humor. You service is second nature and very natural. You learn like me, by observation, so I might understand you better than you think. You are the best peanut a father could ever have. I love you!

Foreward

It has been my pleasure to know Blake Lawhon as a man of faith and a good friend. I have watched as he has ministered and grown in his relationship with the Lord. I’m excited about this incredible work he has put together. I believe that through this book, you will discover the Father’s heart for His children, how He wants to pour out blessings, and learn how He wants to help His children live an abundant life. Blake has a profound understanding of how we, as Christ-followers, are conduits and not reservoirs of the blessings of God. He shares exceptional insight about our self-centered nature. It’s refreshing to see someone writing about us being conduits to strengthen people in this world of self-centeredness and self-focus. I believe you’ll enjoy this book!

Pastor Jeff Klingenberg

Lead Pastor – HighRidge Church

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I must thank God for the vision and direction for this book. While I’m sure I have just scratched the surface of learning this lesson, You have allowed me to live it out in ways and experiences I would have never dreamed possible. May this information find its way to environments where generosity is a struggle and worldly things have wiggled onto the throne of the hearts of man. As a jealous God, I know You are already at work there. I pray it can be used to strengthen the Church and Kingdom vision.

To those who prayed over and through this process, thank you immensely for your covering and intercession.

To John and Cara, Jeremy and Casey, and John and Melissa, who have allowed me to share parts of their stories, thank each of you for sharing for greater understanding some of what God has done in your lives over the years. The interactions I have had with you all have impacted my life greatly and given me great insight of transformational selflessness. May the Lord continue to bless each of you beyond measure.

To those who have given to fund this project, you truly understand what generosity can look like. Your belief in me is overwhelming and I know that God will deliver blessings in abundance for each of you personally, as well as to steward.

To my bride, Tracy. There is no way under the sun that I could do this without your love and support. Your continued encouragement to be obedient to what God has placed before me only stirs me to love you more. Forever and always.

While this is a very simple project flowchart, it depicts a process directive. They are used in churches, businesses, organizations, and even clubs. These are used often for guidance toward a mission or goal and can be very complex in certain situations. Generally, involved parties will tweak and hone flowcharts to design an optimal protocol in an attempt to achieve a perfect production plan.

The perfect flowchart has been designed by Creator God, outlined in the Bible as our instruction manual for life. As if that wasn’t enough, He sent Jesus to earth to give an example of how to follow that flowchart. In our humanity, we take it upon ourselves to ‘tweak and hone’ this work of absolute truth to appease our selfish nature, creating unintended bottlenecks and efficiency deficiency. In this world of striving to understand instead of trust, society has rejected the peace Jesus left for us, in order to gain power and influence. This is where control is gained, even though it is a facade and elevates to a false place of self-importance. The fallout of this can be much like a house of cards as its foundation has little strength.

If our intent in life is to make a difference in the lives of those we come in contact with, we are encouraged to act in selfless ways. There is but One who was the example of this…Jesus.

Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

Philippians 2:3 (HCSV)

This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night, so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed

in whatever you do.

Joshua 1:8

Intro

For every function, there can be found an optimal (or perfect) process. To trust a specific process requires a certain measure of faith in not only the process itself, but in the creator of each process. However, in all of our wisdom, many times we cave to the notion that there has to be a better way. I know that for me, I wish I had a dollar for every time I snubbed my nose at the multi-lingual stack of papers staring me in the face upon the initial opening of something in which assembly was required. And if you are like me, nine times out of ten I end up with things so far out of whack I am forced to reverse my new and improved failed process, shamefully and begrudgingly returning to my first love … instructions.

For those of you who are the truest of recipe followers, and who shudder at the mere suggestion of wandering from the path of any written instruction, I salute you… as I giggle. The question begging to be asked is how do we balance instruction, allowing freedom to move within legalistic boundaries? Even the Apostle Paul spoke of this in His first letter to the Corinthians.

"Everything is